Congress Must Restore Control Over Federal Data Accessed By DOGE

FEDERAL DATA MAY NO LONGER BE UNDER LAWFUL CONTROL As a constituent, I urge you to act immediately to restore congressional control over federal data that may no longer be under lawful custody, creating a serious and ongoing risk that Americans’ sensitive personal information is now in uncertain, unauthorized, or untraceable hands. RESTORE LAWFUL CONTROL Americans provided their personal information to the federal government for specific lawful purposes - not for broad consolidation, external transfer, or unclear downstream use. Congress must determine without delay where this data is located, who controls it, and whether copies exist outside authorized federal systems. INVESTIGATE CREDIBLE REPORTS OF MISUSE Recent whistleblower reporting has intensified these concerns. A former DOGE employee has been accused of claiming possession of highly restricted Social Security Administration data and storing at least one dataset on a personal device. This represents a breakdown of basic federal data safeguards. Prior disclosures also indicate that DOGE personnel accessed and, in some cases, shared sensitive data through unauthorized systems. These reports raise the possibility that federal data has been copied, transferred, or retained outside lawful custody. ENFORCE LAW AND LIMIT OVERREACH Federal law - including the Privacy Act of 1974 - strictly limits how personal data may be accessed, shared, and combined. Any large-scale copying or off-system transfer without explicit authorization threatens civil liberties and the constitutional balance of power. This is not partisan - it is about lawful control and accountability. THE RISKS ARE IMMEDIATE If federal data is outside proper control, the risks are serious: identity theft, misuse of benefits information, improper profiling, and exposure of sensitive records. Even the possibility of misuse undermines trust in systems millions depend on for financial and health security. ACT BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURS Until Congress establishes full accountability, the risk continues. Delay increases the likelihood that sensitive data could be further accessed, transferred, or misused before further exposure occurs. TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION (1) Publicly affirm that all federal data must remain under lawful agency control, with no unauthorized copies or external storage. (2) Hold immediate oversight hearings and compel sworn testimony from agency leaders, inspectors general, and DOGE personnel. (3) Require a time-bound accounting of where all affected data resides, who accessed it, what authority was used, and whether any data must be secured or destroyed. (4) Enact restrictions prohibiting cross-agency data consolidation or off-system transfer without explicit congressional authorization and independent review. Congress must restore control, enforce accountability, and ensure that federal data never drifts beyond lawful custody again. Thank you.